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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "huge sum of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Uk Bank" <info@tritonmarine.com>
Reply-To: <johndouglas_a146@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:08:43 -0800
Subject: RE: Business Deal
Good Day,
Please kindly accept my apology for sending unsolicited mail to you. I believe you are a highly respected personality considering the fact that I sourced your profile from a human resource database. Though, I do not know to what extent you are familiar with events.
Am John Douglas, a banker working in the United Kingdom.I have a business proposal for you. There is a harmless and secure business deal i want to transact with you from my bank to your country.I am contacting you in regards to a transfer of a Huge sum of money from a deceased account,that was deposited in our bank here in London-United Kingdom by some Politician from Africa who has been dead for some years. All i need is for you to partner with me for an easy and smote transaction and you will be adequately compensated.All required documents and details of this transaction shall be made available to you as soon as we receive your reply.
Best Regards,
Mr.Douglas
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Anti-fraud resources:
